Toyota Racing Development

From Toyota Wiki

Toyota Racing Development or TRD is the in-house tuning shop for all Toyota, Lexus, and Scion (car) cars. TRD is responsible both for improving street cars for more performance and supporting Toyota's racing interests around the world. TRD produces various tuning products and accessories, including performance suspension components, superchargers, and wheels. TRD parts are available through Toyota dealers, and are also available as accessories on brand-new Toyotas and Scions. Performance parts for Lexus vehicles are now labeled as F-Sport and performance Lexus models are labeled F to distinguish Lexus's F division from TRD. TRD is similar to other in-house tuning shops, such as Mazdaspeed (Mazda), Nismo (Nissan), Ralliart (Mitsubishi), Mugen (Honda), STi (Subaru), Ford Performance Vehicles (Ford Australia), Holden Special Vehicles (Holden), Mercedes-AMG, BMW M, Audi "RS" models or Volvo R-Design models.

There are currently two official branches of TRD: TRD Japan (aka Toyota Technocraft) and TRD USA. Toyota Team Europe (TTE) evolved into the Toyota Formula One Team (also known as Panasonic Toyota Racing) and is not under the control of TRD. TTE is a completely separate entity, and is responsible for the Formula One team.

Toyota Team Europe, now the Toyota Formula One Team, concentrates on Formula One World Championship Racing (F1). Former concentrations include the World Rally Championship with the famous Toyota Celica GT-Four and rally versions of the Toyota Corolla, as well as two attempts (in 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans and 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the GT-One.

Toyota Australia introduced a TRD division in August 2007, with the SuperchargerToyota AurionV6, followed by a high-performance variant of the 4WD Toyota Hilux in April 2008 [1]. According to Toyota Australia, there will not be a high-performance version of the Toyota Corolla being sold under TRD despite its popularity, instead speculation suggested a third model was likely to be a Toyota RAV4. TRD is aimed to compete with local in-house tuning shops Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) and Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV).

However, in December 2008 Toyota Australia announced it would be ceasing production of its TRD range. The decision will take effect from 31 March 2009.[2]